Intestinal Worms Can Cure Disease. Here's How

November 5, 2024

Why are mental health disorders, autoimmune diseases, and allergies more common than ever before?

One in six children now has a mental health disorder.

20% of women in the United States have been diagnosed with depression after menopause.

Nearly half of us are allergic to something.

And why should more than 40% of children be on medication for a chronic condition?!

Now, what if the solution to these rising health challenges lies in something we’ve spent years eradicating:

Intestinal worms?

These statistics might seem alarming, but when we start asking why we get sick, we take the first step toward understanding the origins of disease—and ultimately toward prevention.

Modern medicine tends to ask what and how: "What conditions do you have?" and "How do we treat them?"

But we should be asking why.

If we don’t understand why something happens, we can’t hope to stop it.

This is the critical step toward prevention.

Unfortunately, modern research tends to focus on detailed mechanisms aimed at developing the next drug, rather than asking why we need new drugs in the first place.

So, what if the eradication of something we considered harmful is actually contributing to the rise of chronic illnesses?

The Surprising Benefits of Intestinal Worms

For centuries, humans have battled intestinal worms, labeling them as parasites that cause suffering and disease.

Helminths, like hookworms and roundworms, have inspired fear and led to major campaigns aimed at their eradication.

In the early 1900s, the Rockefeller Foundation led a successful campaign to eliminate hookworm from the southern United States, and similar efforts are now underway in developing countries.

But what if we got it wrong?

Recent research suggests that helminths are not just parasites to be feared and eradicated.

In fact, they may be necessary for our health.

A growing body of scientific evidence shows that helminths are important regulators of immune function.

Their eradication in modern society may be contributing to the rise of chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune conditions, and even mental health disorders.

How the Immune System Supports Bacteria (and Worms)

This paradigm shift is reminiscent of what happened in the field of immunology just a few decades ago.

For years, scientists believed the immune system’s primary role was strictly anti-bacterial.

But as research into the human microbiome progressed, it became clear that the immune system actually works with many bacteria in our bodies, supporting their growth and maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

They help regulate immune responses, preventing overreactions that lead to autoimmune diseases, allergies, and other inflammatory conditions.

The vermiform appendix, long thought to be a useless organ, is now recognized as a "safe house" for beneficial bacteria.

This discovery was a major breakthrough in understanding the body's relationship with microbes.

Similarly, research now suggests that intestinal worms may also play a key role in maintaining this balance.

The Rise of Autoimmune Diseases: Could Worms Be the Missing Link?

Today, we’re seeing an explosion of autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), Type 1 diabetes, and Crohn’s disease are on the rise, and scientists are beginning to link these conditions to the loss of helminths in the human body.

For example, research by neurologists Jorge Correale and Mauricio Farez in Argentina showed that MS patients who had accidentally contracted intestinal worms experienced far fewer relapses than those without worms.

Over a 10-year period, patients who kept their worms saw no progression of their autoimmune disease, while those who lost their worms saw their symptoms return.

This discovery suggests that helminths could offer protection against autoimmune diseases by regulating immune responses.

The type of worm didn’t seem to matter—whether patients had roundworms or flatworms, the benefits were the same.

Gut-Brain Connection: Could Worms Help with Mental Health?

One of the most intriguing areas of research is the connection between helminths and mental health.

Studies have found that people who intentionally reintroduce helminths into their bodies report improvements in anxiety, depression, and even migraine headaches.

But how do worms affect the brain?

The answer lies in the gut-brain axis, a complex communication network between the gut and the brain.

This axis relies on both the vagus nerve and chemical signals from gut microbes to send messages to the brain.

Helminths appear to influence this communication, potentially reducing inflammation and supporting mental health.

In animal studies, researchers have found that giving pregnant rats benign helminths protected their offspring from brain inflammation, which is linked to cognitive dysfunction and mood disorders.

These findings suggest that the loss of intestinal worms could be contributing to the rise in mental health issues in humans, especially in children.

Why Don’t We Use Worms in Medicine?

Given the promising results of these studies, why aren’t helminths being used more widely in medicine?

Part of the problem lies in the economics of drug development.

Helminths are naturally occurring organisms, and because they can’t be patented, there’s little financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies to invest in them.

Without the potential for profit, large corporations aren’t interested in developing therapies involving helminths, even though the research suggests they could be a game-changer for treating autoimmune diseases, allergies, and even neuropsychiatric disorders.

There’s also a cultural barrier. Modern society has spent decades viewing worms as harmful parasites, and it’s difficult to shift that perspective, even in the face of compelling scientific evidence.

The Future of Medicine: Helminths and Beyond

Despite these challenges, research into helminths is continuing. As our understanding of the gut microbiome grows, so does our appreciation for the complex interplay between our bodies and the organisms that live within us.

Helminth therapy may not be a magic bullet, but when combined with a healthy lifestyle, it could offer a powerful tool for preventing and treating many modern inflammatory diseases.

Conditions like allergies, autoimmunity, and digestive disorders could become relics of the past, allowing us to focus our research and resources on other areas of science, like space exploration or particle physics.

If we could reintroduce helminths to alleviate suffering, we would be taking a major step toward addressing the why behind so many of today’s health problems.

The time to start asking the right questions is now. Why are we getting sick, and what can we do to stop it?

Take the First Step Toward Better Health

Taking care of your gut health is one of the most important steps you can take to support your overall well-being.

Our high-quality probiotic supplements are designed to promote a healthy balance in your gut microbiome, supporting digestion, immune health, and even mental clarity.

Start taking control of your health today by incorporating our doctor-formulated probiotics into your daily routine.

Shop now and experience the difference :)

Back to blog

Why are mental health disorders, autoimmune diseases, and allergies more common than ever before?

One in six children now has a mental health disorder.

20% of women in the United States have been diagnosed with depression after menopause.

Nearly half of us are allergic to something.

And why should more than 40% of children be on medication for a chronic condition?!

Now, what if the solution to these rising health challenges lies in something we’ve spent years eradicating:

Intestinal worms?

These statistics might seem alarming, but when we start asking why we get sick, we take the first step toward understanding the origins of disease—and ultimately toward prevention.

Modern medicine tends to ask what and how: "What conditions do you have?" and "How do we treat them?"

But we should be asking why.

If we don’t understand why something happens, we can’t hope to stop it.

This is the critical step toward prevention.

Unfortunately, modern research tends to focus on detailed mechanisms aimed at developing the next drug, rather than asking why we need new drugs in the first place.

So, what if the eradication of something we considered harmful is actually contributing to the rise of chronic illnesses?

The Surprising Benefits of Intestinal Worms

For centuries, humans have battled intestinal worms, labeling them as parasites that cause suffering and disease.

Helminths, like hookworms and roundworms, have inspired fear and led to major campaigns aimed at their eradication.

In the early 1900s, the Rockefeller Foundation led a successful campaign to eliminate hookworm from the southern United States, and similar efforts are now underway in developing countries.

But what if we got it wrong?

Recent research suggests that helminths are not just parasites to be feared and eradicated.

In fact, they may be necessary for our health.

A growing body of scientific evidence shows that helminths are important regulators of immune function.

Their eradication in modern society may be contributing to the rise of chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune conditions, and even mental health disorders.

How the Immune System Supports Bacteria (and Worms)

This paradigm shift is reminiscent of what happened in the field of immunology just a few decades ago.

For years, scientists believed the immune system’s primary role was strictly anti-bacterial.

But as research into the human microbiome progressed, it became clear that the immune system actually works with many bacteria in our bodies, supporting their growth and maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

They help regulate immune responses, preventing overreactions that lead to autoimmune diseases, allergies, and other inflammatory conditions.

The vermiform appendix, long thought to be a useless organ, is now recognized as a "safe house" for beneficial bacteria.

This discovery was a major breakthrough in understanding the body's relationship with microbes.

Similarly, research now suggests that intestinal worms may also play a key role in maintaining this balance.

The Rise of Autoimmune Diseases: Could Worms Be the Missing Link?

Today, we’re seeing an explosion of autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), Type 1 diabetes, and Crohn’s disease are on the rise, and scientists are beginning to link these conditions to the loss of helminths in the human body.

For example, research by neurologists Jorge Correale and Mauricio Farez in Argentina showed that MS patients who had accidentally contracted intestinal worms experienced far fewer relapses than those without worms.

Over a 10-year period, patients who kept their worms saw no progression of their autoimmune disease, while those who lost their worms saw their symptoms return.

This discovery suggests that helminths could offer protection against autoimmune diseases by regulating immune responses.

The type of worm didn’t seem to matter—whether patients had roundworms or flatworms, the benefits were the same.

Gut-Brain Connection: Could Worms Help with Mental Health?

One of the most intriguing areas of research is the connection between helminths and mental health.

Studies have found that people who intentionally reintroduce helminths into their bodies report improvements in anxiety, depression, and even migraine headaches.

But how do worms affect the brain?

The answer lies in the gut-brain axis, a complex communication network between the gut and the brain.

This axis relies on both the vagus nerve and chemical signals from gut microbes to send messages to the brain.

Helminths appear to influence this communication, potentially reducing inflammation and supporting mental health.

In animal studies, researchers have found that giving pregnant rats benign helminths protected their offspring from brain inflammation, which is linked to cognitive dysfunction and mood disorders.

These findings suggest that the loss of intestinal worms could be contributing to the rise in mental health issues in humans, especially in children.

Why Don’t We Use Worms in Medicine?

Given the promising results of these studies, why aren’t helminths being used more widely in medicine?

Part of the problem lies in the economics of drug development.

Helminths are naturally occurring organisms, and because they can’t be patented, there’s little financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies to invest in them.

Without the potential for profit, large corporations aren’t interested in developing therapies involving helminths, even though the research suggests they could be a game-changer for treating autoimmune diseases, allergies, and even neuropsychiatric disorders.

There’s also a cultural barrier. Modern society has spent decades viewing worms as harmful parasites, and it’s difficult to shift that perspective, even in the face of compelling scientific evidence.

The Future of Medicine: Helminths and Beyond

Despite these challenges, research into helminths is continuing. As our understanding of the gut microbiome grows, so does our appreciation for the complex interplay between our bodies and the organisms that live within us.

Helminth therapy may not be a magic bullet, but when combined with a healthy lifestyle, it could offer a powerful tool for preventing and treating many modern inflammatory diseases.

Conditions like allergies, autoimmunity, and digestive disorders could become relics of the past, allowing us to focus our research and resources on other areas of science, like space exploration or particle physics.

If we could reintroduce helminths to alleviate suffering, we would be taking a major step toward addressing the why behind so many of today’s health problems.

The time to start asking the right questions is now. Why are we getting sick, and what can we do to stop it?

Take the First Step Toward Better Health

Taking care of your gut health is one of the most important steps you can take to support your overall well-being.

Our high-quality probiotic supplements are designed to promote a healthy balance in your gut microbiome, supporting digestion, immune health, and even mental clarity.

Start taking control of your health today by incorporating our doctor-formulated probiotics into your daily routine.

Shop now and experience the difference :)

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